OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS PROVISION PREVENTS USACE REFORM

Contracting by the Corps of Engineers could be curtailed if a little-noticed provision in the Omnibus FY2003 Appropriations Bill is enacted. Section 110 of the Senate-passed version of H.J. Res. 2 provides, None of the funds appropriated herein or hereafter in this Act, or any other Act, shall be used to study or implement any plans privatizing, divesting or transferring of any Civil Works missions, functions, or responsibilities for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to other government agencies without specific direction in a subsequent Act of Congress. COFPAES staff is investigating the intent and affect of the provision with Congressional and OMB officials.